Galleon Marina will be the first marina that will come abeam to your starboard side as you enter Key West Bight. This facility has an excellent reputation, and it certainly lies right in the heart of Key West!

Stayed over Christmas . Helpful staff, patient at directing me to a berth between the riprap and the pontoons, which I didn’t think could be the way in as it was so narrow. Never did get my iPad to hook up to the wifi, which the marina staff know is an issue for Apple products. They gave me a number for tech support, but of course on the afternoon of 24 December I never got a call back before leaving on the 27th. The Windows laptop did connect, but service was slow. Can’t believe their tech guys can’t figure it out.
Resort bar good for sundowners after a dip in the large pool and the hot tub.
Tom Syrett

Key West Bight City Marina occupies a good portion of the rear (southeasterly shores) of Key West Bight.

We have stayed at Key West Bight Marina for three years in a row. Each we time we stay for about 5 or 6 months. The staff is great. The marina has great water and is close to downtown. We highly recommend this place.
Radler

The Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina.

We spent two winters in Key West at Garrison Bight mooring field. Wonderful spot. One mile to Garrison Bight, 2 miles to Key West bight and Rat Key is in the anchorage for doggie walking. Grocery and other shopping within dingy distance. We loved evenings in Key West bight and dog walking from Garrison Bight docks through the lovely ‘Meadows’ neighborhood. Key West is fun on a daily basis. Be sure to use Key West Marine for all your boating needs, and if you have head problems, use the Head Honcho. The Cubanos at KW Marine will hook you up. Great Thai food at Garrison Bight and generally great fun and food are available in short range from the moorings.
Cap and Linda Munday

Skipper Starling’s report comes in response to an earlier posting on the heavy-handed practices of some FWC patrol officers, http://cruisersnet.net/?p=133874. Despite numerous complaints filed by experienced and law abiding boaters, Florida seems unable to control the over-zealous enforcement present in the FWC enforcement division, practices definitely not limited to the Keys.

Predatory practices by FWCC toward boaters in Key West
Being shadowed by a boat with no lights while underway to the dock at sunset is unnerving , but when it turns out to be FWCC , it is worse.
Now pulled over by FWCC, they mention running lights so I mention the sunglasses they still have on. No matter that it is literally moments after sunset. Their intention is to write a citation and generate income for FWCC and at the moment I have become that revenue resource.
Minor infractions that should warrant a verbal warning are tickets.
Worse yet , a few weeks later I receive a certified letter from FWCC .
Inside, a citation for a non operational anchor light , which was issued in my absence from the vessel. It was issued at 6:32 , just after sunset when the ambient light was bright enough to keep the photo cell on my Davis auto anchor light from activating. This anchor light is an industry standard and turns on and off automatically . My vessel was not anchored in State waters but Navy bay bottom and not in navigable waters.
I have lost any respect for the newly inducted Officers, as they lack the skills necessary to gain the confidence of the Citizens and form relationships that would benefit the FWCC and boating community. Older Veteran Officers do not operate in this manner and know that it creates animosity and results in the boating community not helping FWCC in investigations of serious violations due to bad experiences and distrust.
FWCC wonders why the boating community doesn’t trust them , and refuses to cooperate . This is one example of their perception of boaters as a income revenue resource.
Lee Starling

Skipper Petra posed the questions below for a contributor who had commented on the Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=144908) which lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina. SSECN is happy to facilitate the following exchange. Skipper Petra would welcome your input as well.

Hi James,
Are there any docks, balls or cheap marinas from Big Coppitt Key to the Boot Key Ball area? I am going to be working in a music duet in that area while also a novice captain of a 38′ Morgan w 3.6 draw. I would want to avoid that North wind chop and also rely on a bicycle due to knee problems. My more secure alternative now only seems to be the Boot Key Balling area. Any help or suggestions are appreciated.
Charly Petra

Hi Larry,
I have been in the Key West Garrison Bight Mooring Field for seven years. There is a 3′ wave during heavy North Eastern Cold Fronts that last two to three days and then it’s flat. These fronts are not a problem for me since I am in a 45′ Gulfstar S/V and should not be a problem for a 38′ Morgan. If there is a wind generator on board he will get plenty free electric that keeps my refrigeration and Satellite Dome humming. The cost is $323/M free water, parking, bath house, and parking for dinghy and car. The cheapest Marina I believe is on Stock Island and I am not sure of it’s name. It is next to 3D boat yard. I would guess the docking fee around a $1,000 a month. The facilities are brand new and it is nice with Restaurant and bar. In Key West it would cost closer to $2,000 + per month. There are some spots to anchor free that his draft would handle. One is in Key West by Christmas Tree Island which is a zoo, west of Fleming Key in KW., another would be Cow Key Channel which is between Key West and Stock Island. There could be some spots near Boca Chico Island north of the air base. You would need to search these out, but I have heard of some spots near there.
Jim

The Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina.

An affordable alternative to a marina in Key West or Stock Island are the mooring balls at Garrison Bight Marina in Key West. The overnight rate is in the neighborhood of $20, I’ve ball parked that because I always go for the monthly rate $323. and change. You need a dinghy for a 10 to 15 minute ride in to the dinghy docks. Included in the fee is a: bathhouse with laundry facilities, showers and restrooms, parking space for car and dinghy. There are bicycle racks, bikes not included in fact it is a dangerous place to leave a bike cabled and locked. Best to sleep next to bike I have had four stolen. It is a mile walk into town and the bus station and stop is two buildings to the north.
James T. Holtzinger

The Garrison Bight/Fleming Key mooring field lies along a broad swath of water between Fleming Key and Sigsbee Park, north-northwest of Garrison Bight and is managed by Key West City Marina.

The mooring field is a nice security versus anchoring.
The second plus plus is the showers at the dinghy dock.
But no security, gate does not lock at the dinghy dock. This is the second year that I witnessed this problem. Second there is no fuel.
Bram Clement

Conch Harbor Marina flanks the southeastern banks of Key West Bight, northeast of of Key West Bight City Marina.

Terrific marina, good staff. You can borrow a bike for free and washers/dryers are free as well. There is a little area with barbecue and chairs separate from Dante’s for marina guests only.
AliOoops

I stayed there earlier this month when windy weather kept us in port longer than planned. It is a good marina and a first rate staff. My only comment is it caters to the party crowd and that is not me. Nice pool at the foot of the docks, but don’t expect a quiet swim. They have a DJ playing loud music that was intrusive even inside our closed-up air conditioned boat halfway down the dock.and the pool area is packed with a singles bar atmosphere. If you like that this is the place to stay in Key West. However, if your style is more Jimmy Buffet than hip hop there are other places, even in busy Key West Bight that are a better fit for you.
Brad Hines

At the April 16 meeting of the Monroe County Commission in Key West, Commissioner George Neugent intends to outline proposals targeting the derelict vessel problem in the Florida Keys. Because of the expense involved with their removal, the issue of abandoned vessels, not only in the Keys but in all coastal harbors, has become a major problem for municipalities. The below linked article by Kevin Wadlow of KeysInfoNet.com reports on plans by Key West officials to deal with derelicts. The referenced Tug Tilly sank in March, see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=136965

This is an important story for those to know who will be visiting Key West. What it boils down to, is that if you anchor, or pick up a mooring in Key West, this proposal would make it mandatory for cruisers to show proof of a recent waste pump-out before coming ashore by dinghy. Now, let me stress, such a regulation is made far LESS onerous courtesy of the fact that the city of Key West provides regular, FREE pump-outs to boats at anchor and on a mooring. Nevertheless, this new requirement is one of which NEW cruisers, and cruisers visiting Key West for the first time, need to be made aware. The issue of proof of pumpout has been a topic of discussion for cruisers for sometime now, see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=131066. The article linked below by Sean Kinney of KeysInfoNet.com outlines the proposed pumpout regulation for Key West cruisers.ARTICLE NO LONGER AVAILABLE

So what do those of us who don’t pumpout do (composting toilet)? The Keys seem to be doing everything in their power to drive away transient cruising boats.
John Kettlewell

Sooner or later, communities are going to get the message that all it takes to keep their waters clean of recreation boat waste, is a free pump out boat. Use some of those free flowing federal dollars for something that doesn’t benefit anyone but the taxpayers.
Not many people will pump waste overboard if there is a feasible and reasonable alternative. But, everybody has to, sooner or later, if there isn’t.
R. Holiman

This list of tasty eateries comes from our friends at Trawler and Trawlering and, although the Gantts are skippers of a land yacht, their recommendations can be heeded by crews of water vessels just as well!

We take our “32′ Avanti Land Yacht (motorhome)” to the Key West Naval Air Station RV park every year for 3 months Jan-Mar. Here are a few of our favorite restaurants:
The Commodore (downstairs) located 700 Front St on waterfront. Great mahi-mahi sandwich.. comes w/fries or broccoli for $9.95 at lunch. Wife and I get one of different sides and share.
Abbodanza’s located at 1208 Simonton Street. Great Italian food…. very large servings. The Abbodanza spaghetti and meat balls comes with a salad and is enough for two to share… just order another salad
Camille’s (next door to Abbodanza). Great breakfast and lunch. Lunch special includes 1/2 chicken salad or tuna salad sandwich and cup of soup. A favorite that is always tasty.
Hogfish Bar and Grill, 6810 Front St, Stock Island serves a great hogfish sandwich.
Too many others to list….
Reid and Karen Gantt

Although Stock Island Marina has been operating for several years, the completed marina village has just had its official grand opening. The marina, along Shrimp Road, occupies the westerly shores of Safe Harbor, north of marker #5. The facility consists of 128 floating docks, a dog park, community garden, high-speed fuel pump, gym, laundry facilities, bathrooms with showers, lounge area, bar and restaurant, pool, nature trails, retail fish house and an 80-room ’boutique fish camp.’ For the complete article as posted on KeysInfoNet, go to: [ARTICLE NO LONGER AVAILABLE]
http://www.flkeysnews.com//2014/01/25/494261/stock-island-marina-village-now.html

While a very nice, much needed Marina in the Key West Area, Cruisers should be aware that although the floating concrete docks are wide and convenient, there are no pilings between the slips. Docking in a stiff wind could be challenging if the wind is blowing your vessel away from the finger pier and into the adjoining vessel. The slips are basically “side to” !
Rich D

Captain Landry’s comment is in response to an article by Gwen Filosa that appeared January 16, 2014 in KeyNews.com, Florida Keys and Key West’s Daily Online News. While the search for cleaner waters is admirable, proof of pumpout is often difficult to provide. The new regulation does specify “liveaboards” and may not affect transients. See http://cruisersnet.net/?p=131066 for an earlier posting on this issue.

The [Key West] city’s Bight Management Board unanimously approved Wednesday a new policy requiring liveaboards using the historic seaport’s dinghy dock to show proof they are having sewage pumpout service done regularly. http://keysnews.com/node/52935
Susan Landry

I don’t have a pumpout log.
A good time to sing the praises of my Nature’s Head. [Composting toilet]
Tom Murphy

This law raises a lot of questions. How are you supposed to provide proof of pumpout if you have just arrived from an offshore run from Mexico? What if you don’t pumpout because you have a composting head, an incinerating toilet, or use a porta pottie? What if your boat doesn’t have toilet facilities and you want to dinghy in? What if the place you pumped out is free, is not attended, and offers no proof of pumpout? Is an acceptable pumpout log just notes that the owner keeps? I had some friends who lived on a large steel trawler with a 400-gallon tank and they pumped out once a season or so, but usually they just headed offshore and dumped legally. What are they supposed to do?
John Kettlewell

Captain Kettlewell sends us this article by reporter Gwen Filosa in The Florida Keys and Key West’s Daily Inline News. The report details discussions between members of the Bight Management Board and Mark Tait, the manager of the City Marina, concerning enforcement of the current law requiring pump-outs. For the complete story, go to: http://keysnews.com/node/52348. Such enforcement will affect transients and live-aboards.

Key West is considering requiring dinghies and visiting boats to show proof of pumpouts before docking!
What about those of us who use composting or incinerating toilets or porta potties?
John Kettlewell

While I absolutely agree that no boat should ever pump raw sewage overboard, someone in the Key West city attorney’s office and Monroe County should read the Federal Clean Water Act! It clearly and specifically prohibits states (and, therefore, municipalities from regulating MSDs or their use! They can enforce the Federal law and regulations but cannot go beyond those requirements. The federal law and regulations were put in place to avoid just this type of hodgepodge of laws which would be impossible for vessels to know or follow as they transit different local jurisdictions.
Larry Sherman s/v Enchantress

As a follow-up to my recent email regarding Key West requiring proof of pumpout, here is the Federal law prohibiting the states and their political subdivisions from doing that! Perhaps you could have your friends at BoatUS look into this?
(f) Regulation by States or political subdivisions thereof; complete prohibition upon discharge of sewage
(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), after the effective date of the initial standards and regulations promulgated under this section, no State or political subdivision thereof shall adopt or enforce any statute or regulation of such State or political subdivision with respect to the design, manufacture, or installation or use of any marine sanitation device on any vessel subject to the provisions of this section.
(B) A State may adopt and enforce a statute or regulation with respect to the design, manufacture, or installation or use of any marine sanitation device on a houseboat, if such statute or regulation is more stringent than the standards and regulations promulgated under this section. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “houseboat” means a vessel which, for a period of time determined by the State in which the vessel is located, is used primarily as a residence and is not used primarily as a means of transportation.
Larry Sherman s/v Enchantress

With respect to the federal law quoted, consider that Texas has an MSD Certification requirement (TEX WA. CODE ANN. § 26.044 : Texas Statutes – Section 26.044: DISPOSAL OF BOAT SEWAGE)
That has been in place since 2009 without federal challenge.
It applies thusly, “As used in this section, “boat” means any vessel or other watercraft, whether moved by oars, paddles, sails, or other power mechanism, inboard or outboard, or any other vessel or structure floating on water in this state, whether or not capable of self-locomotion, including but not limited to cabin cruisers, houseboats, barges, marinas, and similar floating objects.” The Gulf ICW is “water” in this state.
Chris and Janet

With special permission from www.flkeysnews.com/ (http://www.flkeysnews.com/), we have reprinted a portion of his article below. The marina which is the subject of this article lies on the Hawk Channel side of Stock Island, just north of Key West.
Having personally visited this facility several times within the last five years, it did indeed seem to be a bit down on its luck. Hopefully, with the purchase described below, everything will return to first-class status in short order!

Local developer buys iconic marina
Singh plans $25M upgrade, 80 new condos at Oceanside
One of the Florida Keys’ most successful developers will purchase one of the Keys’ most iconic marinas.
Pritam Singh will close on a deal today to purchase Oceanside Marina, on Stock Island, for $5 million from BB T Bank, he told The Citizen on Wednesday. Singh said he plans to invest another $25 million into the marina for repairs and upgrades, including 80 new condos and a restaurant.
“It (the marina) was ‘the’ place, and it can be again,” Singh said. “It was a jewel among the marinas of Key West. It was the premier sportfishing marina of the Florida Keys. There have been more world records from boats out of here than anywhere else in the country.”
Millionaire Texas oil men Tex Schramm and Clint Murchison built the marina in the late 1960s, Singh said.
The marina fell on hard times since its glory years. In early 2010, BB T Bank took the deed for the property in lieu of foreclosure from the Cortex Cos., which had changed the name to Kings Pointe Marina.
The group who managed the marina for the bank changed the name back to Oceanside in 2011.
Singh admitted that the marina needs a lot of work to bring it back to its heyday. One entire boat barn needs to be leveled, and the seawalls and boat ramp are in dire need of repairs, he said.
Rows of boat slips will remain untouched, as the slips were sold to individual owners. Singh said he purchased 8 acres of upland and 4 acres of bay bottom.
He has been working with Monroe County planning staff for the past several months to determine how much development can occur there. But he added that he plans to keep it a sportfishing marina.
“The saying is, ‘The legend is back,'” Singh said. “It’s beautiful. It’s an extraordinary site.”
Singh called Stock Island an up-and-coming community with a lot of potential. He cited the success of restaurateur Bobby Mongelli, who owns Hogfish Bar Grill and Roostica on Stock Island.
He also referenced the changes being made on Shrimp Road, on the other side of Safe Harbor, by the owners of Stock Island Marina Village, who have built a dog park and community garden on their property, extended their piers and are looking at building a hotel on Safe Harbor.
“Stock Island is great,” Singh said. “It is fabulous.”

Even though Sunset Marina is located on Stock Island, this facility lies within sight of the Fleming Key/Key West Mooring Field, and within a short automobile ride of downtown Key West. Thus, we usually think of Sunset Marina as being part of the Key West array of pleasure craft facilities, as opposed to the Stock Island marinas located a bit farther east, and on the ocean (Hawk Channel) side of the isle.

Sunset Marina on Stock Island just sold to a local developer July 1, 2013. We were there from November through July and loved the marina. The drawbacks are location and amenities. We overcame those with a car. It’s a $20 cab ride to/from Duvall St, but worth it if you’re drinking anyway. It’s about a 20-25 minute bike ride Downtown.
I recommend Sunset Marina, it’s 1/3 the price if you stay a month or more. For just [same as] 2-5 days stay at A&B or Galleon.
Bill Borchert

More and more cruisers are choosing to spend their time in delightful Key West, Florida, by tethering their vessel to one of the mooring balls east of Fleming Key. This field is managed by the Key West City Marine in Garrison Bight (one of two Key West city marinas, the other being located in Key West Bight).

Through a rookie’s eyes: We arrived at the mooring field on Feb 19, in beautiful weather and light winds. I had called ahead to get instructions (rookie-remember?) and was told how to pick up a mooring. It was not how it was described; we have an 8 ft high bow and the only way to attach a line is by hand at water level (you cannot lift these mooring balls out of the water). A very helpful boater came with his dinghy, looped the lines through and handed them back up. If we come again, (and we plan to) we will have to grab a buoy at midships by lying on deck at the hatch, get a line through it, and walk it back to the bow, and use the dinghy to get the second line on. All this after being told we could pull it aboard at an 8 ft high bow! In defense of the staff, it was the only mistake we encountered; they were wonderful otherwise. One other note for first time visitors: Finding the office is a bit of a trick: Enter [Garrison] bight in your dinghy; The first docks you see will be filled with houseboats. The dinghy dock and amenities for the mooring field are on the west side of the bight, past these houseboats and the channel to the inner part of the bight (under a bridge) But to check in, go under the bridge, turn left and go all the way to the boat ramp. Tie up and find the office in a long gray trailer in the parking lot. We had to stop and ask directions twice.
Lisa Keith-Lucas

A & B Marina overlooks the southwestern banks of Key West Bight, just south of the Galleon Marina.

I attended Fantasy Fest in October 2012 and pulled in A&B to fuel. I purchased 4K worth of fuel. I ask dock hand if I could load my tender while tied up since the wind was at over 20 KTS and he replied yes. The loading took around 30 minutes. Just as we were finishing the dock master showed up and told us we needed to get the f??k out of the fuel dock. There were no boats waiting to fuel. Needless to say I was not impressed with A&B and will never return.
On a side note I kept a 55′ boat there for over a year a few years back and during FF had eaten at their restaurant.
R C Roberts

Even though Sunset Marina is located on Stock Island, this facility lies within sight of the Fleming Key/Key West Mooring Field, and within a short automobile ride of downtown Key West. Thus, we usually think of Sunset Marina as being part of the Key West array of pleasure craft facilities, as opposed to the Stock Island marinas located a bit farther east, and on the ocean (Hawk Channel) side of the isle.

We stayed at Sunset Marina on the bayside of stock island for one year and were quite happy there, very nice clean modern floating docks, bathrooms / showers OK, very quiet at night, very clean and reasonable rates. Draw back was that in our slow moving sailboat it took a long time to get to a reef on the ocean side, Had to go around Key West to the west to get to the ocean. Navigation entering the marina is tricky but once we did it a few times it was easy. Also don’t mind the Sheriffs headquarters/jail and juvi detention center next door. These are new modern county buildings and don’t bother the eye. There was a homeless shelter on the grounds of the Sheriff’s HQ which caused the homeless folks to gather up the road from the marina which there were complaints about but they never bothered us, but I believe that shelter has been closed down as of this time but have to confirm.
Jules Robinson